Courses of Study 2015-2016 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
Courses of Study 2015-2016 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Art


Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)


The undergraduate curriculum in art, leading to a bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.), provides an opportunity for the student to combine a general liberal studies education with the studio practice required for a professional degree. During the first two semesters, all students follow a common course of study designed to provide a broad introduction to the arts and a basis for the intensive studio experience of the last two years. Students are encouraged to work across disciplines focusing on an intellectually rigorous independent practice. The second and third years include semester-long opportunities to experience professional and global art worlds in New York City  and Rome, Italy . The final year is focused on the development of a visual thesis.

Concurrent Degree Option


The five-year concurrent degree option allows students to earn a B.F.A. as well as a bachelor of arts (B.A.), or a bachelor of science (B.S.) from another college at Cornell University. Students usually apply to the concurrent degree option during their second year. Once admitted, they are assigned an advisor in each college to assist with course planning and graduation requirements. Concurrent degree candidates must satisfy all requirements for both degrees and earn a minimum of 160 academic credits. At least 64 of the total credits must come from courses offered in the Department of Art. It is expected that a concurrent degree candidate will complete ART 3005 Advanced Practice  in the spring semester of the fourth year, ART 4100 Senior Seminar  and ART 4001 Thesis I  in the fall semester of the fifth year, and ART 4002 Thesis II  in the spring semester of fifth year.

AAP NYC


The AAP NYC B.F.A. semester (spring semester only) is a collaboratively developed and conceptually linked plan of study with studio and theory courses and internships that utilize the remarkable resources of New York City. Faculty members include practicing artists, theorists, critics, and curators.

Within the context of AAP NYC’s course offerings, internship, and immersive exposure to contemporary art and artists, students explore their possible future pathways as professionals within the arts. Each student has access to studio space for the semester and shares the facilities and some courses with graduate architecture students. Learn more about AAP NYC.

Eligibility Requirements


B.F.A. students with a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.000 who are in good academic standing and who have completed the requirements of the first three semesters of the B.F.A. curriculum are eligible for participation in AAP NYC. The AAP NYC semester is designed for B.F.A. students in their second year, but students at other levels may participate.

Application Process


Interested students work closely with the department faculty and academic services staff early in the first year of study to plan for the AAP NYC semester. Admission is competitive and students are admitted by application and review of their academic record. Applications are due by December 1 of the preceding year. For additional information, visit the AAP NYC website or the AAP Office of Admissions and Academic Services, 235 Sibley Dome.

Schedule Requirements


Students are required to enroll in ART 3003 - New York City Studio  which counts as a 3000-level elective studio, ART 3103 - New York City Seminar  which counts as a theory and criticism elective, ART 3805 - Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Metropolitan Studies  which counts as a modern art history course, and ART 3903 - NYC Professional Practice  which counts as in/out-of-college elective credit. Students are also required to undertake an approved two day-per-week internship.

Cornell in Rome


The Cornell in Rome B.F.A. semester (fall semester only) draws upon the extensive historical and cultural resources of Rome’s art and architecture, providing a semester of extraordinary opportunity and creative growth.

Within the context of the Cornell in Rome semester, students are exposed to all aspects of Rome from the antique to the contemporary.  Each student has access to studio space and works in a variety of media. The semester provides an experience unparalleled for artistic, intellectual, and personal growth. Cornell in Rome participants have the opportunity to exhibit in professional galleries and art spaces locally. Learn more about Cornell in Rome.

Eligibility Requirements


B.F.A. students with a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.000 who are in good academic standing who have completed the requirements of the first two years of the B.F.A. curriculum are eligible for participation in Cornell in Rome. The Cornell in Rome semester is designed for B.F.A. students in their third year.

Application Process


Interested students work closely with department faculty and academic services staff to plan for the Cornell in Rome semester. Admission is competitive and students are admitted to the program by application and review of their academic record. Applications are due by December 1 of the preceding year. For additional information, visit the Cornell in Rome website or visit the AAP Office of Admissions and Academic Services, 235 Sibley Dome.

Schedule Requirements


Students are required to enroll in ART 3001 - Rome Studio  which counts as a 3000-level elective studio, and ART 3102 - Contemporary Rome Seminar  which counts as a theory and criticism elective. Students select two additional site-based courses that vary by semester. Students interested in an internship apply for placement and enroll in ART 3902 - International Professional Practice/Internship . A listing of Rome-based art courses  is included in the art course offerings.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Requirements


Curriculum


To be in good standing in the B.F.A. program, students must follow the semester-by-semester required curriculum outlined below.  Students are permitted to switch the position of elective courses within the curriculum as long as the total credit hours within each semester remain relatively consistent and all degree requirements are satisfied. Students participating in AAP NYC and/or Cornell in Rome semesters are strongly encouraged to work closely with their faculty advisor and AAP Academic Services staff to ensure that all degree requirements are satisfied.  These off-campus options are integral to the B.F.A. curriculum, and the curriculum has been designed to facilitate participation in both off-campus options. 

Students matriculating in Fall 2015 should follow this curriculum:

First Year: Fall Semester


Credits: 15 academic credits*

*B.F.A. students may choose to add an Out-of-College Elective in the first semester of study without needing to petition.


First Year: Spring Semester


Credits: 15 academic credits*

*B.F.A. students may choose to add an Out-of-College Elective in the second semester of study without needing to petition.


Second Year: Fall Semester


  • Two 3000-level required art studios (8 credits)
  • ART 2902 Writing for Art  (3 credits)
  • Art history (4 credits)
  • Out-of-College Elective (3 credits)

Credits: 18 academic credits


Second Year: Spring Semester (Ithaca or AAP NYC)


  • Ithaca:
    • One 3000-level required art studio (4 credits)
    • One 3000-level theory and criticism (4 credits)
    • Art history (4 credits)
    • Two In/Out-of-College Electives (6 credits)

Credits: 18 academic credits

Credits: 18 academic credits


Third Year: Fall Semester (Ithaca or Cornell in Rome)


  • Ithaca:
    • One 3000-level elective Art studio (4 credits)
    • One 3000-level theory and criticism (3 credits)
    • Art history (4 credits)
    • One Out-of-College Elective (3 credits)

Credits: 14 academic credits*

*B.F.A. students spending the fall semester of the third year in Ithaca may choose to enroll in an additional out-of-college elective or 3000-level studio in the fall instead of spring semester of third year.

Credits: 14 academic credits*

*B.F.A. students spending the fall semester of the third year in Rome may choose to enroll in an additional out-of-college elective in order to remain on track with out-of-college requirements.


Third Year: Spring Semester


  • Ithaca:
    • 3000-level required art studio (4 credits)
    • ART 3005 Advanced Practice   (6 credits)
    • Art history (4 credits)
    • Out-of-College Elective (3 credits)

Credits: 17 academic credits


Fourth Year: Fall Semester


Credits: 17 academic credits


Fourth Year: Spring Semester


  • ART 4002 - Thesis II  (6 credits)
  • In/Out-of-College Elective (4 credits)
  • Out-of-College Elective (3 credits)
  • Out-of-College Elective (3 credits)

Credits: 16 academic credits


Total Academic Credits: 130


Requirement Areas


Studio Practice Requirement: 62-66 credits


1. B.F.A. students are required to enroll in a minimum of one and a maximum of three studios per semester, as indicated in the semester-by-semester curriculum. All B.F.A. students are provided access to workspaces and labs. Students are expected to be present during regular class hours for instruction and criticism.

2. Introductory 2000-Level Studios: B.F.A. students are required to successfully complete the following 2000-level studio in each studio practice area by the end of the second semester:

*ART 2501  must be completed in the first fall semester of study.

3. Required 3000-Level Studios: B.F.A. students are required to successfully complete three 3000-level studios from three different studio practice areas.

  • All 2000-level studios and ART 2103  must be completed or in progress in order to enroll in any 3000-level studio.
  • Studios completed at Cornell in Rome (ART 3001 ) and AAP NYC (ART 3003 ) do not fulfill the required 3000-level studio requirement.
  • Independent studio courses (ART 3092 ) do not fulfill the required 3000-level studio requirement.

4. Elective 3000-Level Studios: B.F.A. students are required to successfully complete two additional 3000-level studios. These studios can be from any studio area.

  • Studios completed at Cornell in Rome (ART 3001 ) and AAP NYC (ART 3003 ) are applied as elective 3000-level studios.
  • Independent studio courses (ART 3092 ) of 4 credits are applied as elective 3000-level studios.

5. ART 3005 - Advanced Practice: ART 3005  must be completed in the spring semester of the third year of study. Students pursuing the B.F.A. concurrent degree option are expected to enroll in ART 3005  in the spring semester of the fourth year of study. ART 3005  is a pre-requisite for ART 4001 .

6. Thesis: All required and elective 3000-level art studios and ART 3005  must be completed before ART 4001 - Thesis I . ART 4001  and ART 4002  must be completed in the final year of study.

Theory and Criticism Requirement: 13 credits


B.F.A. students are required to successfully complete 13 credits in the area of theory and criticism:

Students select from a list of approved courses , including Department of Art offerings at AAP NYC (ART 3103 ) and Cornell in Rome (ART 3102 ), and Department of Architecture offerings in Ithaca and AAP NYC (ARCH 3304-3309).

ART 2103  must be completed during the first fall semester of study.  ART 2103  must be completed or in progress in order to enroll in any 3000-level studio. In addition, the ART 2103  requirement cannot be fulfilled with transfer credit.

ART 4100 - Senior Seminar  is taken in the final fall semester of study.

Art History Requirement: 16 credits


B.F.A. students are required to successfully complete four courses totaling 16 credits in the area of art history:

Students select from a list of approved courses , including Department of Art offerings at AAP NYC (ART 3805 ) and Cornell in Rome (ART 3801 , 3802 , and 3803 ), and Department of Architecture offerings in Ithaca, AAP NYC, and Cornell in Rome (ARCH 3810-3823).  Please note that the art history requirement cannot be fulfilled with transfer survey of art history courses. Such courses will be applied toward the humanities and social sciences requirement  under the category of literature and the arts  (LA).

Writing Requirement: 6 credits


B.F.A. students are required to successfully complete one First-Year Writing Seminar by the end of the second semester and ART 2902 - Writing for Art  in the first semester of the second year.

B.F.A. students can not satisfy the writing requirement with advanced placement credit. Please refer to the Knight Institute for university First-Year Writing Seminar guidelines.

Required Out-of-College Electives Requirement: 21 credits


Humanities and Social Sciences: 15 credits

B.F.A. students are required to successfully complete five courses of 3 or more credits selected from the following six humanities and social sciences categories, with no more than one course in each category and no more than three courses in any one academic department.

  • Cultural Analysis (CA)
  • Foreign Language (FL)
  • Historical Analysis (HA)
  • Knowledge, Cognition, and Moral Reasoning (KCM)
  • Literature and the Arts (LA)*
  • Social and Behavioral Analysis (SBA)**
     

If a course has been classified as a humanities or social sciences course, the code will be included in its course description in Courses of Study with the exception of foreign language (FL) courses. FL courses are not coded in Courses of Study; all foreign language courses of 3 or more credits count as FL. For more information, please refer to the humanities and social sciences definitions  in this catalog.

*B.F.A. students can apply history of architecture offerings in the Department of Architecture (ARCH 3810-3823) and art history electives in the Department of Art (ART 3801-3805) toward the LA requirement.

**B.F.A. students can apply offerings in the Department of City and Regional Planning toward the SBA requirement (CRP 1100 , 1101 , 2000 , and 2010 ).

Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning/Physical and Biological Sciences: 6 credits

B.F.A. students are required to successfully complete two courses in the areas of mathematics and quantitative reasoning (MQR)  and/or physical and biological sciences (PBS) .

PBS/MQR courses include all courses of 3 or more credits on the MQR list Primary PBS list , Supplementary PBS list , or Introductory Life Sciences/Biological Sciences list maintained by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

*B.F.A. students can apply ART 2907  /ARCH 3702  toward the MQR requirement.

In/Out-of-College Electives Requirement: 8 - 12 credits


In/out-of-college elective credit includes any course from any college at Cornell, including AAP.  This may be taken for a letter grade or S/U. Please refer to the AAP policy on non-academic credit  for a list of excluded courses.

Total Academic Credits: 130

Rules Governing the B.F.A. Program


B.F.A. students are expected to follow the semester-by-semester B.F.A. curriculum and all rules governing the B.F.A. program. Any deviation must be petitioned prior to the act. Petitions should be submitted to the AAP Office of Admissions and Academic Services, 235 Sibley Dome. Failure to comply with any department rules or petitions decisions may result in review by the College Academic Review  Committee (ARC).

Good Standing


To be in a good academic standing, a B.F.A. student must:

  • Successfully complete a minimum of 12 academic credits each semester
  • Earn a minimum semester grade point average (GPA) of 2.300
  • Comply with department curriculum and rules

At the end of each semester, the college’s ARC goes over the record of each student who is not in good academic standing and decides an appropriate action. For additional information, refer to ARC Policies and Procedures .

Credit Limit


All B.F.A. students are required to take a minimum of 12 and not more than 20 academic credits per semester.

To enroll in more than 20 credits, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or better and petition for permission. Petitions must be submitted prior to the act.

Grading


All studios and required electives must be taken for a letter grade. In/Out-of-College Electives may be taken for an S/U grade. In addition, all college and university grading policies  apply to B.F.A. students.

Course Numbering


  • All Cornell courses numbered 1000–1099 do not count toward graduation.
  • All ART courses numbered 1100–1999 count as in/out-of-department elective credit only.

Advanced Placement Credit


Advanced placement credit refers to college credit that students earn before they enter Cornell. Advanced placement credit may be earned from Advanced Placement (AP), General Certification of Education Advanced Level (“A” Level), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Cornell department (CASE) examinations. Its primary purpose is to exempt students from introductory courses and to place them in advanced courses. Its value is that it allows students to include more advanced courses in their course of study.

Advanced placement credit is applied as in/out-of-college elective credit only. Advanced placement credit may not be used for the writing requirement or required out-of-college elective courses in the humanities and social sciences (CA, FL, HA, KCM, LA, SBA), physical and biological sciences (PBS), mathematics and quantitative reasoning (MQR).

Please refer to the Advanced Placement section of this catalog for additional university guidelines  regarding AP credit.

Independent Study


Independent study courses in the Department of Art are offered for variable credit, for up to a maximum of 4 credits. Independent studio courses of 4 credits taken for a letter grade are applied as elective studios. Independent studio courses of fewer than 4 credits and/or taken for an S/U grade are applied as In/Out-of-College Elective credits only. Enrollment in an independent study requires an approved Independent Study Form.

Eligibility requirements for enrolling in an independent study (independent studio, directed readings, directed research ):

  • All 2000-level studios completed
  • All required 3000-level studios completed or currently in progress
  • The first two years of the program completed
  • A cumulative GPA of 2.700 or better
  • Enrollment in Ithaca.

The above information must be verified by the AAP Office of Admissions and Academic Services on an Independent Study Form prior to enrollment. Out-of-department students may be exempt from these requirements at the discretion of the supervising professor.

Residency Requirement


  • The B.F.A. program is an eight-semester program.
  • The B.F.A. concurrent degree option requires ten semesters.
  • Students who transfer into the B.F.A. program must complete a minimum of four semesters in residence (Ithaca/Cornell in Rome/AAP NYC).
  • B.F.A. students are required to spend the last two semesters of candidacy in residence in Ithaca.

Transfer Credit


In order for transfer credit to be accepted by AAP, the coursework must:

  • Be completed at a regionally accredited institution; and
  • Be completed for a letter grade of C or better; and
  • Be equivalent in rigor to a Cornell course, as judged by:
    • Course content; and/or
    • The use of a textbook similar to that used in the parallel Cornell course; and/or
    • The use of examinations, writing assignments, projects, portfolios, or other submitted work that is substantially similar to those required in a similar Cornell course; and/or
    • Substantial similarity in meeting hours of the Cornell and non-Cornell course.

Please note that Cornell University does not accept credit for courses sponsored by colleges or universities but taught in the high school to high school students, or taught at the college exclusively to high school students, even if the college provides a transcript of such work. For further information, please refer to the college policy on transfer credit for courses taken while in high school .

Transfer Credit Review Process


All transfer credit is evaluated by the designated Cornell faculty member in the appropriate subject area. To apply transfer course work toward Out-of-College Elective requirements, an approved AAP Transfer Credit Request form and a sealed official transcript are required.  To apply transfer course work toward all other B.F.A. degree requirements, an approved Course Equivalency form and a sealed official transcript are required. All requests require submission of supporting documentation, including course descriptions, syllabi, and/or portfolio. All forms and official transcripts should be submitted to the AAP Office of Admissions and Academic Services, 235 Sibley Dome, Ithaca, NY 14853.

Additional Information for Transfer Students


To ensure a timely transfer of credit, incoming transfer students are required to submit course equivalency requests immediately upon acceptance. Students should also meet with the academic services staff as soon as possible but no later than orientation to review how their credits are applied toward the Cornell degree and for course enrollment planning.

Students who transfer into the B.F.A. program must successfully complete:

  • A minimum of four semesters in residence
  • A minimum of 60 academic credits at Cornell
  • A minimum of 30 of the 60 credits in the Department of Art

Please note that the art history requirement cannot be fulfilled with transfer survey of art history courses. Such courses will be applied toward the humanities and social sciences requirement under the category of literature and the arts (LA). In addition, ART 2103 - First-Year Studio Research Workshop  must be taken at Cornell.

Deviating from Curriculum, Policies, or Procedures


Students wishing to deviate from the prescribed curriculum, enroll in fewer than 12 or more than 20 credit hours, seek a substitution for a specific graduation requirement, or adjust course enrollment after the add/drop period must petition the art department for permission. Petition forms are submitted to AAP Office of Admissions and Academic Services, 235 Sibley Dome. Petitions must be submitted prior to the act. Further, students wishing to take more than the standard number of credit hours should have a cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or better. Petitions should be submitted only if there are clearly extraordinary circumstances that merit special consideration. In order for a petition to be approved, circumstances must be extenuating. Once submitted and acted upon, petitions can only be reversed by subsequent petition.

Appeals: A student has ten days from the time of the petitions decision to appeal the decision in writing. Appeals should be submitted directly to the Department of Art, 224 Tjaden Hall, for review and vote by the full tenure/tenure-track art faculty.  The faculty decision on the appeal is final. No further appeals will be considered.

Minor in Fine Arts (for Non-Departmental Students)


The art minor is an opportunity for students who are not enrolled in the Department of Art and who have a serious interest and/or background in studio art to continue their commitment to art at the college level. 

The curriculum for the minor in fine arts totals a minimum of 23 credit hours. All coursework must be completed at Cornell University, and a grade of C or better is required. In addition, any coursework used to fulfill the minor cannot also be used to fulfill specific requirements of the student’s major.

Specific Course Requirements for the Minor:


Application Process


Interested students must complete an Intent to Minor form in order to receive permission to enroll in ART 2103 - First-Year Studio Research Workshop . Completed forms should be submitted to AAP Office of Admissions and Academic Services, 235 Sibley Dome. Upon successful completion of all minor requirements, students must submit an Application to Graduate with a Minor in Fine Arts and an official transcript to the Department of Art, 224 Tjaden Hall, at least one month prior to graduation.

Questions regarding the minor can be addressed during AAP Office of Admissions and Academic Services walk-in hours on Mondays and Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p.m., and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 235 Sibley Dome. 

The Master of Fine Arts Requirements


The master of fine arts (M.F.A.) requires four semesters of full-time study, equal to a minimum of 60 credits. Graduate work done elsewhere or in the summer session is not applicable to the M.F.A. The curriculum leading to the M.F.A. is flexible to accommodate the needs of the individual student and to enable the student to partake of the greater Cornell community. The ratio of graduate faculty to students allows an exceptional opportunity for individual mentoring. Graduate students are provided individual studios and have extended access to studios and labs.

Graduate students in art may enroll in courses in any field of study offered at the university. Fifteen credits are required in each semester; of these, 9 credits are in studio work, and 3 credits are in graduate seminar. Students are required to take at least 12 credits of academic work outside the Department of Art during their four semesters in residence. Candidates for the M.F.A. must have completed 18 credits in the history of art in the course of their graduate and/or undergraduate study. Prior undergraduate art history course work may apply toward this requirement and will be evaluated by the director of graduate studies. Any remaining credit toward this requirement must be taken at Cornell. Every M.F.A. candidate must prepare a written statement, offer a thesis exhibition of studio work completed during residency, and give an oral defense of the written statement and visual thesis. Gallery space is provided for a one-week solo thesis exhibition during the final spring semester.

Art Course and Fee Information


Course offerings may vary by semester and year. Students should consult the Course Roster to determine which courses will be offered in a given semester.

Art students should expect to spend a minimum of $1,000 and up to $3,000 for expendable supplies each academic year, depending on academic level, courses selected, and projects chosen.

Course Offerings